Block handling apparatus



Feb. 6, 1962 R. M. GRAY 3,019,925

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1958 INVENTOR.Fob er? M Gray giwlmiww Feb. 6, 1962 R. M. GRAY 3,019,925

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Roberf M.Gray Feb. 6, 1962 R. M. GRAY 3,019,925

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.Fab an M. Gr

BY gMfW I Feb. 6, 1962 R. M. GRAY BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 24, 1958 INVENTOR. Faber! M. Gr

BY M1 ZQAZMW Eff-arr: gys

Feb. 6, 1962 R. M. GRAY 3,019,

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Robe r1M. Gray Feb. 6, 1962 R. M. GRAY BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet6 Filed April 24, 1958 Feb. 6, 1962 R. M. GRAY 3,019,925

BLOCK HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

Fab en M Gn y wmww 3,019,925 BLOCK HANDLHNG APPARATUS Robert M. Gray,Rte. 1, Sheffield, Ala. Filed Apr. 24, 1953, Ser. No. 730,611 14 Claims.Il. 214-4510) This invention relates to apparatus for handling blocksand the like as they are taken from a kiln, and more particularly tomeans for separating blocks from the pallets on which they are supportedafter the blocks have been cured.

Heretofore, cured concrete blocks taken from the kiln have been removedfrom the pallets by hand, or the pallets with the concrete blocksthereon have been transferred directly to a horizontal conveyor on whichthe blocks are removed from the pallets.

By the present invention, racks having a plurality of superposed loadedpallets thereon are transferred, preferably by a lift truck, from thekiln to a transverse rack conveyor on which the loaded racks arepositioned. A

shuttle conveyor that telescopes beneath the pallets in the racks isprovided for transferring the loaded pallets from the racks. The shuttleconveyors may be raised and lowered for transferring the pallets loadedwith blocks from the racks to a horizontal transfer conveyor on whichthe loaded pallets are conveyed to pallet unloading means. The palletunloading means removes the concrete blocks from the pallets anddischarges the blocks from one side of the unloading means and returnsthe pallets to a supply hopper or magazine of the block making machine.From the time the blocks leave the kiln until they are discharged by thepallet unloading means, no manual handling is necessary.

It is an object of the presentinvention to provide, in combination withpallet unloading means, a vertically movable shuttle conveyor thatunloads loaded pallets from racks having multiple shelves, and atransfer conveyor on which the loaded pallets are moved by the shuttleconveyor and which, in turn, moves the pallets to the pallet unloadingapparatus.

, It is a further object of the invention to provide pallet unloadingapparatus comprising a loaded pallet receiving station having twosupporting frames with pallet supporting rollers thereon, the rollers onone frame being disposed to convey the loaded pallets into the receivingstation and the rollers on the other frame being disposed to convey thepallets out of the receiving station at right angles to the path ofmovement thereinto. The other frame is vertically movable relative tothe first frame, thereby causing the rollers on the other frame tosupport the pallet when raised above the rollers on the first frame.Further, the frames are arranged so that an end thereof pivotsdownwardly permitting empty pallets to roll downwardly into the palletmagazine of the block machine.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide reciprocatingmeans for removing the concrete blocks from the pallets comprising apusher member that engages the rear side of the blocks on the forward.

stroke of the reciprocatory means.

Briefly described, my improved pallet unloading means comprises anupstanding main frame on which a loaded pallet receiving station isprovided by a pair of roller beds embodying a plurality of rollers onseparate frames.

The rollers on one frame are disposed perpendicularly.

to the rollers on the other frame and the frames are disposed forrelative vertical movement so that the rollers on one frame may bedisposed above or below the rollers on the other frame for selectivelysupporting the loaded p'allets thereon. A camshaft having a pair of camsthereon is mounted on the main frame with one cam operatively connectedto actuate one roller frame 3,019,925 Patented Feb. 6, 1962 aredischarged. Horizontal members on the discharge section provide tracksfor rollers carried by the reciprocating means and thereby provide meansfor supporting and guiding the movement of the reciprocating means.-

A switch at the receiving station is actuated at the receiving stationby the movement of the pallets to energize the drive means for thecamshaft. A limit switch, operable responsive to the rotation of thecamshaft, deenergizes the drive means for the camshaft upon completionof a cycle of operation as will be described.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a concrete' block making plantembodying my apparatus for moving and unloading pallets after thepallets with concrete blocks thereon are delivered from a kiln;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the vertically movable shuttle conveyorfor moving the loaded pallets from racks on which they are positioned toa transfer conveyor;

FIG. 3 is aside elevational view of the transfer conveyor on which theloaded pallets are delivered from the shuttle conveyor shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the transfer conveyor shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the pallet unloading means disposedat the discharge end of the transfer conveyor shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 forreceiving loaded pallets therefrom and showing an empty pallet at thereceiving station of the pallet unloading means, the discharge sectionfor the pallets being shown in section;

FIG. 6 is a front end elevational view of the pallet unloading meansshown in FIG. 5 and showing the actuating means therefor with a palletdischarge conveyor on one side of the receiving station and a blockdischarge section on the other side of the receiving station;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the supporting roller framesat the receiving station of the pallet unloading means shown in FIGS. 5and 6 for supporting the pallets thereat;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the cam means for actuatingthe supporting frames shown in FIG. 7 and showing the position of theframes as the loaded pallet is initially received at the receivingstation, the rollers on an outer supporting frame being disposed higherthan the rollers on the inner supporting frame;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the cam means shown in FIG.8 and showing the position of the roller frames as the concrete blocksare being separated from the pallet with the rollers on the inner supporting frame being disposed higher than the rollers on the outersupporting frame;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the cam FIG. 11 is afragmentary, side elevational view of A block discharge section isprothe block discharge section disposed adjacent the pallet unloadingmeans for receiving the blocks after they are removed from the palletand partially showing the reciprocating means for moving the blocksalong the discharge section;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the block discharge section shown in FIG.11;

FIG. 13, is a cross sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG.12; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic Wiring diagram of the controls for the palletunloading means and the transfer conveyor.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of myinvention, I show in FIG. 1 a concrete block making plant embodying ablock making machine indicated generally by the numeral 1% and having atransfer conveyor 11 for conveying pallets loaded with concrete blocksfrom the block machine Hi, the transfer conveyor llshown partly brokenaway in FIG. 1. The concrete blocks 12 are supported, preferably ingroups of three, on pallets 13 which are, in turn, supported on thetransfer conveyor 11. A shuttle conveyor, indicated generally by thenumeral 14, is disposed adjacent the discharge end of the transferconveyor 11 and is mounted on an eievator 16 which is movablevertically. The shuttle conveyor 14 is movable horizontally and thus maybe moved. from the transfer conveyor 11 to a rack conveyor 17 on which aplurality of removable racks 18 is mounted for loading loaded palletsthereon from the transfer conveyor 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, each rack 18 comprises a plurality ofhorizontalangles 19 connected to vertical channel members 21 in superposedrelation to form shelves for the loaded pallets 13. The transferconveyor 11 comprises spaced sides so that the shuttle conveyor 1% maymove therebetween under the loaded pallets 13, and then may be raised toengage the underside of the loaded pallets for removing them from theconveyor 11. The racks 18 have spaced open sides also so that theshuttle conveyor 14 can move inwardly of the racks and position theloaded pallets 13 on the horizontal angles 19 which form inwardprojections on the racks 18. The shuttle conveyor 14 normally moves two,loaded pallets 13 at one time from the, transfer conveyor 11 to theracks 18. The racks 18 are loaded from the top to the bottom and afterthe racks are, loaded, the rack conveyor 17 will move one step in thedirection of the arrow 22 and an empty rack. 18 will be positionedadjacent the discharge end 23 of the shuttle conveyor 14.

Suitable means, such as a lift truck, may be used for transferring theloaded racks to a kiln (not shown) in which the blocks remain forapproximately 24 hours for curing. Then, the entire rack with the loadedpallets thereon is taken from the kiln by suitable means, such as a lifttruck, to the end 23 and is positioned thereon in detachable relationfor movement at predetermined intervals along the conveyor 17 A secondshuttle conveyor, indicated generally by the numeral 26, is mountedadjacent the racks 13 on conveyor 17 and is adapted fortelescopingbetween the sides of racks 18 and engaging the underside of aloaded pallet 13 with cured blocks thereon to lift the pallet and moveit along the conveyor 26 to the receiving end of a transfer conveyorindicated by the numeral 27. The shuttle conveyor 26. is movablehorizontally and is mounted on an elevator 23 that is movablevertically. The transfer conveyor 27 has spaced sides open at the topthereof so that the shuttle conveyor 26 may be disposed therebetween fordepositing loaded pallets thereon.

I The loaded pallets 13 are transferred by conveyor 27 to the palletunloading means 100 having a receiving station 101 to which the loadedpallets 13 are delivered from conveyor 27. After the loaded pallets arepositioned at the receiving station 101, reciprocating pusher means 102engages a side of the blocks 12 and pushes them from the pallet 13 ontoa block discharge section 103, After the concrete. blocks, are moved tothe discharge section 103, the empty pallets 13 at the receiving station161 are rolled downwardly along a pallet discharge conveyor 104 to apallet magazine or hopper which supplies the pallets for the blockmaking machine 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, I show the shuttle conveyor 26 employed fortaking loaded pallets 13 from the racks 18 and delivering them to thetransfer conveyor 27. The vertically movable elevator 28 has rollers 37adapted for riding along the vertical guides 38 which are secured to afixed upstanding frame indicated generally by the numeral 39. A pair ofroller chains 40 is secured at 41 to the elevator 28 and extends overthe sprockets 42 mounted on the upper portion of the fixed frame 39. Theother end (not shown in the drawings) of the chains 40 is attached to adrum which is driven for raising the elevator 23 while being guidedalong the guides 38 on rollers 37. The elevator 28 is counterweighted sothat it may be easily lowered along with any material that may bethereon.

The shuttle conveyor 26 is mounted on the elevator 28 for verticalmovement therewith and for horizontal movement relative to the elevator28. For this purpose, pulleys 43 are mounted on each side of the shuttleconveyor 26 for guiding and partially supporting the shuttle conveyor. Alateral guiderail 44 is disposed on each side of the shuttle conveyor 26and rides in the groove of the pulleys 43 that are pivotally mountedmounted on the elevator 28. For moving the shuttle conveyor 26horizontally, a rack 46 is secured to the underside thereof and a pinion47 is mounted on the elevator 28 for engaging rack 46. The pinion 47 isdriven by motor 48 and pulleys 4-9 connected through a V-belt 51. Theupper pulley 49 is connected to a gear reducer 53 which drives thepinion 47. The entire drive means for the pinion 47 is mounted on theelevator 28 and moves vertically therewith.

A pair of vertically spaced belts 54- is arranged on the shuttleconveyor 26 for moving the loaded pallets along the conveyor and issupported by rollers (not shown) mounted on conveyor 26. The loadedpallets 13 rest on top of the pair of belts 54. The belts 54 are notdriven mechanically but are gripped in securing relation by a yoke 56which is resiliently mounted on elevator 28 by spring 57 between an endof yoke 56 and a bearing 58 secured to the frame of elevator 23. It isunderstood that a yoke 56 is provided for each of the belts 54. Uponmovement of the shuttle conveyor 26 horizontally through the rack andpinion arrangement, the top surface of the belts 54 will slip and movethe pallets thereon due to the gripping of the belts 54 by yokes 56. Atwo-to-one ratio is obtained between the horizontal movement of theshuttle conveyor 26 and the movementof the top surface of the belts 54as the top supporting surface of belts 54 moves two feet for every onefoot of horizontal movement by the shuttle conveyor 26. By thisarrangement, the position of the belt 54 may be accurately determined bythe position of the shuttle conveyor 26, and an automatic timedoperation of the shuttle conveyor 26 for transferring blocks from theracks 18 to the transfer conveyor 27 may be maintained.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the transfer conveyor 27 isshown, a pair of spaced belts 59- is shown mounted on a plurality ofrollers 61 extending between the upper and lower runs of the belts 59.Loaded pallets 13 are placed on the top surface of the belts 59 by theshuttle conveyor 26 and are moved along the transfer conveyor 27 to thepallet unloading means 100. The belts 59 are driven in the followingmanner. A motor 62 is socured to the upstanding frame 63 resting on afloor or other supporting structure. Motor 62 is connected to a gearreducer 64 through pulleys 66 and pulley belt 67. A counter shaft 68 isdriven by the gear reducer 64 and has drive pulleys 69 mounted thereonfor driving the belts 59. A pair of idler pulleys 71 support the belts5? on the end of the transfer conveyor 27 opposite that on which thepulleys 69 are arranged. A brace 72 is connected at one, end of the gearreducer 64 and at the other end to the .5 frame 63 for holding the gearreducer 64 in fixed position and to take the torque reaction thereof.Means operable responsive to the movement of the pallets and comprisinga switch 73 is positioned on conveyor 27 for controlling motor 62 aswill be explained in detail later. A movable arm of switch 73 extendsabove the top level of the belts 59 so that the switch 73 will beactuated by a loaded pallet 13 being conveyed along the belts 59.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6 in which the pallet unloading means 100 isshown, loaded pallets 13 are dis charged from the conveyor 27 at thereceiving station 101 of the pallet unloading means. A pair ofsupporting roller frames is arranged at the receiving station 101 forsupporting the loaded pallets 13 thereat. An outer frame 106 (also seeFIG. 7) is pivotally mounted at 108 to the fixed upstanding frame 107 ofthe pallet unloading means 100. The outer frame 106 compriseslongitudinal frame members 109 connected by cross members 111, thelongitudinal members 109 having rollers 112 mounted thereon for rotationabout a horizontal axis. An inner supporting frame113 is pivotallyconnected at 114 to the outer frame 106 through parallel links 116arranged on each side of the inner supporting frame 113 to form aparallelogram arrangement. Movement of the inner frame 113 relative tothe outer frame 106 is in parallel vertical relation. The inner frame113 comprises longitudinal frame members 117 connected by cross members118. Rollers 119 are secured to the longitudinal members 117 forrotation about a horizontal axis in a perpendicular relation to therollers 112. As shown in FIG. 5, the rollers 112 on the outer frame 106are raised approximately onefourth of an inch above the rollers 119 onthe inner frame 113 and are in position for initially receiving a loadedpallet 13 at the receiving station 101.

For actuating the inner frame 113 and the outer frame 106, a motor 121is provided for driving a pair of pulleys 122. (See FIG. 6.) A pair ofpulley belts 123 is arranged over the pulleys 122 and extends over apair of pulleys 124 for driving the gear reducer 126. The gear reducer126 drives camshaft 129 on which is mounted an outer frame cam 127 andan inner frame cam 128. The outer supporting frame 106 has a cam roller131 (see also FIG. 7) mounted thereon by a bracket 132 and adapted forengaging the upper outer surface of cam 127. The inner frame 113 has acam roller 133 mounted thereon by bracket 134 and adapted for engagingthe upper outer surface of cam 128. Thus, the inner frame 113 may bemoved vertically relative to the outer frame 106 by cam 128 engaging thecam roller 133 on inner frame 113 and moving frame 113 about the pivots114.

A loaded pallet 13 being discharged from the transfer conveyor 27 ontothe receiving station 101 engages a stop member 136 pivotally mounted at137 and actuated by gravity. A weight 138 is secured to an end of thestop 136 for returning the stop to its normal position after the pallet13 has passed thereover. Thus, in the position of the stop 136 shown inFIG. 5, the loaded pallet 13 cannot move rearwardly toward the conveyor27 as it will engage stop 136 and be restrained thereby. Actuating means139 (see FIG. 5) for switch 140 is arranged at an end of receivingstation 101 for engagement by an edge of pallet 13 when the pallet 13 ispositioned at the receiving station 101. Actuation of the switch 140actuates the motor 121 for driving the camshaft 129, as will beexplained in detail below. For deenergizing the motor 121 upon eachrevolution of the camshaft 129, a lug 139' is secured to cam 127 (seeFIG. 6) and engages switch actuating means 140' for a limit switch 141.

For pushing the concrete blocks from the pallet 13, reciprocating pushermeans 102 is provided comprising a pair of substantially vertical arms141 pivotally connected at 142 to the upstanding frame 107 and extendingabove the receiving station 101. Arms 141 are connected at the upperends thereof by a horizontal cross member 143 and intermediately thereofby cross member 145.

A pair of connected links 144 is pivotally mounted at one end to thecross member 143 by pins 146 and connected at the other end to thereciprocating pusher means 102 through the pins 147. For driving thepusher means 102, a link 148 has one end thereof pivotally mounted at149 to a face of the inner frame cam 128 for movement therewith. Theother end of link 148 is pivotally mounted at 150 to the cross member145 which extends between arms 141. Thus, upon each revolution of thecam 128, the pusher means 102 will complete one cycle. The pusher means102 has a rear portion for pushing the blocks 12 from the receivingstation 101 and a forward portion for pushing the blocks 12 along theblock discharge section 103 after the blocks leave the receiving station101. The rear portion comprises rollers 152 mounted on each side of thepusher means 102 over the receiving station 101 for riding in tracksformed between the angle members 153 on the upstanding frame 107 for thepallet unloading means 100. A pusher plate 151 is disposed on the rearportion by suitable frame members and is adapted for contacting a sideof the blocks 12 at the receiving station 101 and pushing them onto thesection 103.

A block discharge section 103 is mounted adjacent a side of thereceiving station 101 for receiving the concrete blocks 12 as they arepushed from the pallet 13 and the receiving station 101 by the pusherplate 151. As shown in FIGS. ll, 12, and 13, the block discharge section103 comprises a bottom plate 156 on which the concrete blocks 12 aresupported after they are pushed from the pallets. The rear end 157 ofthe supporting plate 156 forms a stop for the pallets 13 as the blocksare being pushed from the receiving station and thereby restrainsmovement of the pallets onto the discharge section 104. Supporting plate156 is mounted on support angles 158 which are, in turn, mounted onupstanding frame members 159 partially shown in FIG. 11. Side supportmembers 161 are mounted on the angles 158 and have a pair of angles 162mounted on each side thereof for forming a track between the angles.

Forming the forward portion of the reciprocating means 102 and connectedto the rear portion thereof, an angle 163 (see FIG. 5 also) is securedto the support means for pusher plate 151 and has a connecting bar 164welded thereto which connects the rear portion to the forward portionand moves therewith. The forward portion comprises a plurality of pusherplates 167 which are pivotally mounted at 168. The pusher plates 167 areadapted for engaging the rear side of a group of concrete blocks and forpushing them along the discharge section 103 on the supporting plate156. The forward stroke of the reciprocating means 102 pushes the blocksslightly less than the distance between two adjacent pusher plates 167.A weight 169 is secured to each of the pivotally mounted plates so thatthe plates will tilt rearwardly upon contact with the forward side ofthe blocks on the reverse stroke of the reciprocating means 102 withoutany damage to the concrete blocks or without knocking the concreteblocks over. In order to decrease the weight of the pivotally mountedplates 167, a plurality of holes 171 (see FIG. 13) is provided in eachof the pusher plates 167. The weights 169 are connected to the pusherplates 167 by arms 172 welded thereto.

Rollers 173 are mounted on a horizontal axis on slide plates of thereciprocating means 102 and ride in the track formed between the angles162 and are supported and partially guided thereby. Rollers 174 aremounted on a vertical axis on brackets 175 attached to the slide plates170 and ride along the upper angle 162 forming the track thereby aidingin guiding the reciprocating means. Thus, upon each revolution of thecam 128, the reciprocating means 102 makes a complete cycle throughactuation of the link 148, parallel arms 141, and the connecting link144. The pusher plate 151 pushes the con crete blocks from the pallet atthe receiving station 101, and the pusher blades 167 push the blockswhich have 3 been previously removed from the receiving station by thepusher plate 151 along the discharge section 1633 in successive steps.

The pallet 13 remains at the receiving station 16-1 after the concreteblocks have been removed therefrom and referring now to FIG. 10, it willbe seen that the frames 106 and 113 pivot downwardly about the pivot 168thereby lowering one end of the frames. Thus, the pallet 13 rolls offthe rollers 119 at the receiving station onto the pallet dischargesection 104 (see FIGS. 1 and 6 also) having rollers 176 thereon andthence to the supply hopper or magazine 1126 of the block making machine16. The frames 166 and 113 return to the position shown in FIG. 8 forreceiving a loaded pallet 13 from the transfer conveyor 27 and repeatingthe cycle.

Referring now to P16. 14 for the operation of my improved apparatus andbeginning with a loaded pallet 13 on the receiving end of the transferconveyor 2-7, the loaded pallet 13 moves along the conveyor 27 until itcontacts switch 73. Upon contacting switch 73, the motor 62 for theconveyor 27 is deenergized as shown in FIG. 14 and thus, the loadedpallet 13 stops on conveyor 27. As long as the switch 73- is not engagedby a loaded pallet 13, the motor 62 is energized through the lines 178and 179, the lines L and L indicating the source of energy. After anempty pallet 13 is discharged from the receiving station 1121, theswitch actuating means 139 at the receiving station moves to theposition shown in FIG. 14 and energizes the motor 52 through lines 181and 182. Since there is a time interval between the time that the pallet13 moves out of engagement with the switch means 139 and the time thatthe supporting frames 1% and 113 return to the position shown in FIG. 8,a time delay 183 is disposed in line 132 between the switch means 139and the motor 62. Thus, time is allowed for the frames 1536 and 113 toreturn to pallet receiving position before the motor 62 is energized.Upon energizing the motor 62., a loaded pallet is moved from thetransfer conveyor 27 to the receiving station 101 and motor 62 remainsenergized until the switch 139 is engaged by a loaded pallet 13. Uponengagement of switch 139 by a loaded pallet 13, the motor 62. isdeenergized thereby ceasing the movement of conveyor 27 until switch 73is again opened. The engagement of switch means 1.39 by pallet 13energizes motor 121 through lines 181 and 184. The energizing of motor121 rotates the cam 127 and the cam lug 139' disengages the switch means141 thereby providing a holding circuit for the motor 121 through lines186 and 187. The rotation of cam 127 and 128 from the position shown inFIG. 8 moves the inner supporting frame 113 so that the rollers 119thereon are disposed at a greater height than the rollers 112, as shownin FIG. 9. With the cams 127 and 128 in the position shown in FIG. 9,the reciprocating means 102 begins its forward stroke and the pusherplate 151 moves the blocks at the receiving station from the pallet 13.After the blocks have been removed from the pallet 13, the reciprocatingmeans 102 starts its reverse stroke and the frames 1% and 113 pivotdownwardly about the pivot 168 as shown in FIG. 10, and the pallet 13 isremoved from the receiving station 101. When the pallet 13 leaves thereceiving station, switch means 139 returns to the position shown inFIG. 14 to energize the motor 62. The holding circuit through lines 186and 187 is maintained to energize motor 121 until the lug 139' on cam127 engages the switch means 141 upon a complete revolution of cam 127.Thus, the motor 121 is deenergized upon a complete revolution of cam 127and remains deenergized until a loaded pallet 13 engages the switch 139at which time it is energized again for a new cycle.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improvedblock handling apparatus which automatically takes loaded pallets 13arranged in superposed relation on racks to a pallet unloading means onwhich the blocks are separated from the pallets with the pallets beingdischarged on one side of the pallet unloading means to a palletmagazine or hopper for the block making machine, and the blocks beingdischarged from an opposite side of the pallet unloading means. Nomanual handling of the blocks or pallets is necessary from the time theloaded pallets are taken from the racks until they are separated by thepallet unloading means. The transfer conveyor 27 and the block unloadingmeans 1% are timed so that a loaded pallet moves onto the receivingstation 1131 immediately after an empty pallet 13 is discharged from thereceiving station 1&1. Thus, there is no time lost in the separating ofthe concrete blocks from the pallets.

Further, my improved supporting frames with pallet supporting rollersthereon are provided at the receiving station 161, and the rollers onone frame are disposed at right angles to the rollers on the otherframe. An innor frame is vertically movable relative to an outer frameon which the loaded pallets are initially received at the receivingstation andboth frames are arranged so that an end thereof may pivotdownwardly to permit empty pallets to roll or slide downwardly into apallet magazine. I have also attached a discharge section to a side ofmy pallet unloading means 1121 for receiving the concrete blocks as theyare removed from the pallet 13. Concrete blocks are easily breakable andif a number of concrete blocks are pushed, one behind the other,breakage is frequent. Therefore, I have found that by providing a pusherplate for each group of three blocks the breakage is decreased. Thepusher plates are arranged for pivoting over the following group ofblocks upon the reverse stroke of the reciprocating means.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it Will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In apparatus for moving and unloading pallets having a plurality ofblocks thereon from a rack having a plurality of superposed shelves, ashuttle conveyor mounted for vertical and horizontal movement, means formoving the conveyor horizontally inward of the rack underneath a loadedpallet and then moving the conveyor vertically for engaging the loadedpallet, a transfer conveyor disposed adjacent the shuttle conveyor, saidshuttle conveyor transferring loaded pallets from the rack to thetransfer conveyor, means to drive the transfer con veyor, palletunloading means disposed adjacent an end of said transfer conveyor andin the path of movement of the loaded pallets along the transferconveyor into which the loaded pallets are delivered from the transferconveyor, said pallet unloading means comprising means for pushing theblocks from the pallets in a direction generally at right angles to thedirection of the loaded pallets along the transfer conveyor on one sideof the unloading means and means for removing the empty pallets from theopposite side of the unloading means, and control means to energize saiddrive means for the transfer conveyor upon removal of an empty pallet atthe unloading means whereby a loaded pallet is moved onto the unloadingmeans.

2. In apparatus for separating blocks from pallets supported on a rackhaving at least one upper and one lower shelf formed by lateralprojections on opposite sides of the rack for engaging the pallets, ahorizontally reciprocable shuttle conveyor embodying means to extend theconveyor into the rack between the projections and beneath a pallet,means to raise and lower the shuttle conveyor while extended into therack, a pallet transfer conveyor disposed adjacent the shuttle conveyor,said shuttle conveyor moving the loaded pallets from the rack onto thetransfer conveyor, means to drive said transfer conveyor palletunloading means disposed adjacent an end of said transfer conveyor inthe path of movement of the loaded pallets along the transfer conveyorinto which the loaded pallets are delivered from the transfer conveyor,said pallet unloading means comprising means for removing the blocksfrom the pallets in a direction generally at right angles to thedirection of the loaded pallets along the transfer conveyor on one sideof the unloading means and placing the blocks on a discharge conveyor,means for removing the empty pallets from the opposite side of theunloading means, and control means to energize said drive means for thetransfer conveyor upon removal of an empty pallet at the unloading meanswhereby a loaded pallet is moved onto the unloading means.

3. In apparatus for removing blocks from pallets, a receiving stationfor receiving loaded pallets, a pivotally mounted frame at said stationhaving rollers thereon on which the loaded pallets are initiallyreceived, a second pivotally mounted frame disposed under the loadedpallets at the receiving station and having rollers thereon arrangedperpendicularly to the rollers on said first mentioned frame, therollers on said second frame being disposed at a height below the heightof the rollers on said first mentioned frame when the loaded pallet-sare received by the receiving station and thereby being out of contactwith the pallets,.means'operable responsive to the movement of saidloaded pallets onto the station for raising the second frame so that therollers thereon are at a height above the rollers on the first mentionedframe and support the loaded pallets, means operable responsive to thearrival of loaded pallets at said station for removing the blocks fromthe pallets, and means for lowering one end of said frames whereby theempty pallets move downwardly by gravity and are thereby removed fromthe receiving station.

4. In apparatus for unloading blocks from pallets, an upstanding mainframe having a receiving station for receiving the loaded pallets, acamshaft mounted on the main frame, a pair of cams mounted on thecamshaft for rotation therewith, a first frame pivotally mounted on themain frame and operatively connected to one of said cams for pivotalmovement, said first frame having rollers mounted thereon for rotationabout a horizontal axis and on which the loaded pallets are initiallyreceived at the receiving station, a second pivotally mounted framedisposed under the loaded pallets at the receiving station and havingrollers thereon arranged for rotation about a horizontal axisperpendicularly to the rotation of the rollers on said first frame anddisposed at a height below the height of the rollers on said first framewhen the loaded pallets are received at the receiving station, saidsecond frame being operatively connected to the other of said pair ofcams for pivotal movement, means for driving the camshaft and pivotingsaid second frame whereby the rollers on said second frame may bedisposed at a height above the rollers on said first frame and contactthe loaded pallets for supporting same after the loaded pallets havebeen received at the receiving station, reciprocating means at thereceiving station to remove the blocks from the pallets while therollers on said second frame are disposed at a height above the rollerson said first frame, and means to remove the empty pallets from thereceiving station after the blocks have been removed.

5. In apparatus for unloading concrete blocks and the like from pallets,an upstanding main frame having a receiviug station for receiving theloaded pallets, a camshaft mounted on the main frame, a pair of camsmounted on the camshaft for rotation therewith, a first frame pivotallymounted on the main frame and operatively connected to one of said camsfor pivotal movement, said first frame having rollers mounted thereonfor rotation about a horizontal axis and on which the loaded pallets areinitially received at the receiving station, a second pivotally mountedframe disposed under the loaded pallets and having rollers thereonarranged for rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to therotation of the rollers on said first frame and disposed at a heightbelow the height of the rollers on said first frame when the loadedpallets are received at the receiving station, means for driving thecamshaft, means operable responsive to the movement of each loadedpallet at the receiving station for energizing said drive means androtating the camshaft, means operable responsive to each rotation of thecamshaft for deenergizing said drive means, the rotation of the camshaftand cams thereon pivoting said second frame whereby the rollers on saidsecond frame are disposed at a height above the rollers on said firstframe for supporting the loaded pallets, reciprocating means at thereceiving station to remove the blocks from the pallets While therollers on said second frame are disposed at a height above the rollerson said first frame, and means to remove the empty pallets from thereceiving station after the blocks have been removed.

6. In apparatus for unloading concrete blocks and the like from pallets,a main frame having a receiving station for receiving loaded pallets, avertically movable first frame at said station having rollers thereon onwhich the loaded pallets are initially received, a second verticallymovable frame disposed under the loaded pallets at the receiving stationand having rollers thereon arranged perpendicularly to the rollers onsaid first mentioned frame, the rollers on said second frame beingdisposed at a height below the height of the rollers on said first framewhen the loaded pallets are received at the receiving station, acamshaft mounted on said main frame, means for driving said camshaft,cam means on said camshaft for moving said second frame vertically anddisposing the rollers thereon at a height above the rollers on saidfirst frame for supporting the loaded pallets thereon, reciprocatingmeans operable responsive to the rotation of said camshaft for removingthe concrete blocks from the pallets after the rollers on said secondframe are disposed at a height above the rollers on said first frame,and means to remove the empty pallets from the receiving station bygravity.

7. In apparatus for unloading concrete blocks and the like from pallets,a main frame having a receiving station for receiving loaded pallets, avertically movable first frame at said station having rollers thereon onwhich the loaded pallets are initially received and supported, a secondvertically movable frame disposed under the loaded pallets at thereceiving station and having rollers thereon arranged perpendicularly tothe rollers on said first mentioned frame, the rollers on said secondframe being disposed at a height below the height of the rollers on saidfirst mentioned frame when the loaded pallets are received at thereceiving station, a camshaft mounted on said main frame, means fordriving said camshaft, cam means on said camshaft for moving said secondframe vertically and disposing the rollers thereon at a height above therollers on said first frame for supporting the loaded pallets thereon,reciprocating means operable responsive to the rotation of said camshaftfor pushing the concrete blocks from the pallets, stop means at saidreceiving station adjacent an edge of said pallets for re strainingmovement of the pallets as the concrete blocks are removed therefrom,means operable responsive to the movement of the loaded pallets forenergizing the drive means and rotating the camshaft, and means operableresponsive to each rotation of the camshaft for deenergizing said drivemeans.

8. In apparatus for unloading concrete blocks from pallets, a main framehaving a receiving station for receiving the loaded pallets, a camshaftmounted on the main frame, cam means mounted on the camshaft forrotation therewith, a first frame mounted on the main frame andoperatively connected to said cam means, a second frame mounted on themainframe and operatively connected to said cam means for verticalmovement, said first frame being disposed at a height higher than thesecond frame when the loaded pallets are initially received, means fordriving the camshaft and moving said second frame vertically at a heightabove the main frame for supporting the loaded pallets, reciprocatingmeans operable responsive to the rotation of the camshaft for pushingthe concrete blocks from the pallets while the loaded pallets are at thereceiving station and the second frame is at a height above the mainframe, means operable responsive to the movement of each loaded palletat the receiving station for energizing said drive means and rotatingthe camshaft, and means operable responsive to each rotation of thecamshaft for deenergizing said drive means.

9. In apparatus for unloading concrete blocks from a pa let, 21 mainframe having a receiving station for receiving a loaded pallet, acamshaft mounted on the main.

frame, a cam mounted on the camshaft for rotation therewith, asupporting frame pivotally mounted on the main frame for supporting theloaded pallet, said supporting frame comprising a pair of separatelymounted frames being operatively connected to said cam for pivotingindividually in a vertical plane, means for driving the camshaft, meansoperable responsive to the movement of each loaded pallet at thereceiving station for energizing said drive means and rotating thecamshaft, means operable responsive to each rotation of the camshaft fordeenergizing said drive means, reciprocating pusher means pera'tivelyconnected to said cam for pushing the concrete blocks from the pallet atthe receiving station, and an end of said supporting frame movingdownwardly after the concrete blocks have been removed from the palletfor removing the empty pallet from the receiving station.

10. In apparatus for unloading concrete blocks from pallets, a mainframe having a receiving station for receiving the loaded pallets, acamshaft mounted on the main frame, cam means mounted on the camshaftfor rotation therewith, a supporting frame mounted on the main frame atthe receiving station for supporting the loaded pallets, said supportingframe being operatively 1 connected to said cam means for pivoting in avertical plane, means for driving the camshaft, means operableresponsive to the movement of each loaded pallet at the receivingstation for energizing said drive means and rotating the camshaft, meansoperable responsive to each rotation of the camshaft for deenergizingsaid drive means, a discharge section disposed adjacent the receivingstation, reciprocating pusher means operatively connected to said cmmeans for pushing the concrete blocks from the pallets at the receivingstation onto and along the discharge'section, an end of said supportingframe moving downwardly after the concrete blocks have been removed'fromthe pallet for'removing the empty pallet from the receiving station,horizontally extending guideways along the sides of said dischargesection, rollers on said reciprocating means riding in said guideways,and said reciprocating means comprising a plurality of pusher plates forengaging the rear side of the concrete blocks on the forward stroke ofsaid means, one of said pusher plates removing the blocks from thepallets and the other of said plates moving the blocks along thedischarge section in successive steps.

11. In apparatus for unloading concrete blocks from pallets, a mainframe having a receiving station for receiving the loaded pallets from akiln, reciprocating means pushing the concrete blocks from the palletsat the receiving station, a discharge section adjacent the receivingstation, tracks along the sides of the discharge section, rollersmounted on a horizontal axis on both sides of said reciprocating meansriding in the tracks on said discharge section for guiding and partiallysupporting the reciproeating means, rollers mounted on a vertical axison both sides of said 'recpirocating means for restnaining lateralmovement of the reciprocating means, a plurality of pusher plates on"said reciprocating means for engaging 12 the rear side of the blocks,one of said pusher plates pushing the blocks from the pallets and theother of said pusher plates pushing the blocks along the dischargesection, the other pusher plates being pivotally mounted for pivotingout of the path of the blocks on the reverse stroke of the reciprocatingmeans.

12. In apparatus for removing concrete blocks from pallets, a transferconveyor on which loaded pallets are delivered, pallet unloading meansdisposed adjacent an end of the transfer conveyor and having a receivingstation at which the loaded pallets are delivered from the transferconveyor in the path of movement of the loaded pallets along thetransfer conveyor, reciprocatory means at said receiving station forremoving the concrete blocks from a pallet in a direction generally atright angles to the direction of the loaded pallets along the transferconveyor on one side of the receiving station, means for driving saidtransfer conveyor, means for driving said reciprocatory means, meansoperable responsive to the movement of a pallet on said transferconveyor for deenergizing the drive means thereof, switch means operableresponsive to the arrival of a loaded pallet at the receiving stationfor energizing said drive means for the reciprocatory means whereby theconcrete blocks are removed from the pallet, means for discharging theempty pallet from the opposite side of the receiving station, saidswitch means at said receiving station being operable responsive to thedischarge of the empty pallet for energizing said drive means for saidtransfer conveyor independently of the operable'respons'ive means on thetransferconveyor whereby a loaded pallet is delivered to the receivingstation from the transfer conveyor immediately upon discharge of theempty pallet.

13. In apparatus for removing concrete blocks from pallets, a transferconveyor on which loaded pallets are delivered, a main frame having areceiving station thereon disposed adjacent the transfer conveyoradapted for receiving loaded pallets from the transfer conveyor, acamshaft mounted on the main frame, a cam mounted on the camshaft forrotation therewith, a supporting frame pivotally mounted on the mainframe at the receiving station, said supporting frame being operativelyconnected to said cam for pivoting in a vertical plane, reciprocatingmeans driven by said cam for removing the concrete blocks from thepallets at the receiving station, means for driving said transferconveyor, means for driving the camshaft, switch means operableresponsive to the movement of a pallet on said transfer conveyor fordeenergizing the drive means thereof, switch means operable responsiveto the arrival of a loaded pallet at the receiving station forenergizing the drive means for the camshaft whereby the concrete blocksare removed from the pallet at the receiving station by saidreciprocating means, an end of said supporting frame being movabledownwardly upon each cycle of the camshaft after removal of the blocksfor discharging the empty pallet from the receiving station, said switchmeans at said receiving station being operable responsive to thedischarge of the empty pallet for energizing the drive means for thetransfer conveyor independently of the switch means on the transferconveyor whereby a loaded pallet is delivered to the receivingstation-from the transfer station.

14. In apparatus for moving and unloading pallets loaded with materialand stacked in superposed relation, a shuttle conveyor adaptedselectively to move under and lift the pallets one level at a time andsubsequently to withdraw them from the stack, a transfer conveyordisposed adjacent the'discharge end of the shuttle conveyor, means tomove the shuttle conveyor over the transfer conveyor and thence belowthe lever thereof thereby to deposit the pallets onto the transferconveyor, means to drive the transfer conveyor, pallet unloading meanslocated adjacent an end of the transfer conveyor on which the loadedpallets are delivered, means for removing the material from the pallets,means for removingthe empty 13 pallets from the unloading means, andcontrol means to energize the drive means for the transfer conveyor uponremoval of an empty pallet at the unloading means whereby a loadedpallet is moved onto the unloading means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14Beane Apr. 2, 1946 Gray June 6, 1950 McPhee Oct. 14, 1952 Pries Apr. 28,1953 Gleason Jan. 25, 1955 Hoppe Mar. 22, 1955 Smith May 3, 1955 ThomasJan. 20, 1959

